Combined closure and insect-trap.



W. A. SELLARS.

COMBINED CLOSURE AND INSECT TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 1913.

1,1 17,259, Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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Inventor Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. SELLARS, OF LAltIAR, 'MISSOU'R-I.

comnnvnn CLOSURE T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. SELLARS,

I a citizen of the United States, residingat Lamar, in the county of Barton and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Combined Closure and Insect-Trap, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a combined insect trap and closure, the closure preferably,although not necessarily, taking the form of a screen door.

, One object of the present'invention is to provide a device of thistype having a'compartment, access to which may be had by flies or other insects crawling upwardly upon either side of the screen filler of the door frame.

It is within the scope of the invention to improve generally and'to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made wlthin the scope of what is claimedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing :F1gure 1 shows in side elevation, a closure constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away; Fig. 2 is section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on the line a -i of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is atop plan view of the receptacle in V which the insects ultimately arrive; Fig. 6

is an elevation showing a modified form of the invention, parts being broken away.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a closure comprising two duplicate frames denoted respectively by the numerals 1 and 2. Each frame is crossed adjacent its upper end by a diagonally disposed main brace 3,thebraces 3being arranged opposite to each other. Extending from one side of each frame to the intermediate portion of the corresponding brace 3 is an auxiliary brace 4:, the auxiliary braces 4 being located opposite to each other like the main braces 1.

A filler 5 which may be wire netting, extends upwardly from the bottom of the clo- AND INSECT-TRAP. l I

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV 17, 1914 Application filed December 23, 12 1s. Serial no. 808,467.

sure, they fillerbeing bound between the frames 1 and 2'between the braces 3 andbe tween thebraces 4. The upper edge of the filler 5 does not extend above the upper edges of the braces 3. Therefore, there is formed at the top .of the'structure, a compartment 6, the perimeter of which is defined by the'braces 3 and the upper portions of the frames 1 and 2, this compartment being of triangular contour. Intermediate their ends, the main braces 3 are grooved in their inner faces to form an opening 7. The'opening 7 is located adjacent the angle defined by thebraces 3 and 1 and constitutes a means whereby access is had to the compartment 6 above referred to. A conical leader 8 is secured to the braces 3 about the opening 7, the leader extending into the compartment 6.v Side walls 12 are secured to the opposed faces of the frames 1 and 2 and extend downwardly to points adjacent the lower edges of the braces 8 and 4, the walls 12 closing in the sides of the compartment 6. In order to finish off the closure and to improve its appearance, facing strips 1 1 may be applied to the ou.terfaces of the frames 1 and2 over the edges of the sidewalls 12. The side walls 12 preferably are made of wire netting.

In one of the main braces 3, adjacent its lower end and close to one of the stiles of the structure is formed a tapered opening 9. Disposed against. one brace 3, below the opening 9 is a receptacle 10, the receptacle at one side and at its top being provided with a laterally extended arm. 17 having a terminal notch 18. The arm 17 fits against the under side of the brace in question, and a screw 19 or the like inserted'into the lower face of the brace, fits in the opening 18, it being possible to mount the receptacle 10 in place by merely straddling the arm 17 on the screw 19. The lower portion of the receptacle 10 is engaged by a latch 11 held in place'by ascrew 20 entering the frame 1, the latch 11 comprising an arm 21 which lies against the side face of the receptacle, and an angularly disposed arm 22 which extends beneath the receptacle. The receptacle 10 is open at its top, and preferably is located adjacent the hinged side of the closure.

The practical operation of the structure above described is as follows z-Flies and like insects, traveling upwardly along the filler 5, upon either side of the closure will pass into an open bottom pocket defined by the lower portions of the braces 3 and 4: and by the lower portion of the side wall 12. The lower portions of the braces 3 and 4L being disposed in converging relation will tend to direct the insect toward the opening 7 in the main braces 3 through which opening the insects will pass. At this point it may be noted that the upper edge of the filler 5 extends across the opening 7, and therefore, the insects may enter this opening from either side of the filler and from either side of the closure. T he insects passing through the leader 9 will be received in the compartment 6, from which they will not retreat. As the insects die, they will drop upon the inclined main braces 3 which act as chutes, the insects sliding downwardly toward the opening 9 and passing thence into the receptacle 10 which, as aforesaid, may be removed at any time.

The structure has been described as comprising frames 1 and 2, braces 3 and braces l these parts being in duplicate. It is obvious, however, that the structure may be described as comprising a frame each brace being referred to as a unitary structure, since the duplication of the parts in question is not necessary to the successful operation of the device.

Independent of the foregoing, there is shown in Fig. 6 a modified form of the invention. The parts hereinbefore described are designated by corresponding numerals with the suflix a In this form of the invention, the modification consists in shortening the frame 1, this short frame being designated by the numeral 15 and being terminated as indicated at 16, adjacent the lower ends of the braces l and 3 The modification renders unnecessary two duplicateframes extending from the top of the frame to the bottom thereof, but the operatic-11 of the structure remains unchanged.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is A combined insect trap and closure comprising a frame; a main brace extended diagonally of the frame from a point adj acent one corner of the frame to the opposite side of the frame; a diagonally disposed auxiliary brace extended between the intermediate portion of the main brace and the opposite side of the frame, the main brace having an opening disposed at the apex of the angle defined by the braces; a filler in the frame and extended upwardly to the braces, the opening in the main brace extending upon both sides of the upper edge of the filler and walls applied to opposed faces of the frame, the walls cooperating with the frame and the main brace to define a trapping compartment, and cooperating with the main and auxiliary braces to define entrance compartments, the opening in the main brace establishing a communication between both entrance compartments and the trapping compartment.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, 1 have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. SELLARS.

Witnesses J. B. MoGILvRAY, VJ. A. Evans.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gomrnissioner of I'Eatents,

Washington, D. C. 

